Astronomical device



g- 14, 1945- J. c. LAFFERTY I 2,382,543

ASTRQNOMIGAL DEVICE Filed Feb. .14, 1944 mmvrog. I

l]- C. LAgFFERTY g la/5M I HT TORNEY.

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASTRONOMIOAL nEvIon Jerome C. Lafferty, Los Angeles,Calif. I 7 Application February 14, 1944, Serial No. 522,234

4 Claims. (Cl. 35- 47) My invention relates to an astronomical device, and more particularly to a device adapted for illustrating or teaching astronomy. v

An important object of my invention is to provide means simulating the starlit sky, in combination with means for adjusting thevisibility of portions of same in order that the positions of the stars may be indicated at different times of the year. I

Another object of the invention is to provide means of such character that will simulate the sky in the northern hemisphere and also the sky in the southern hemisphere.

, Still another object of the invention is to provide adjustable mechanism whereby the means simulating the sky in the southern hemisphere may be turned so that it will be uppe most and most convenient for inspection by astronomy students. I

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, Iconvenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangement of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section, of an embodiment of the foregoing objects.

Fig. 2 is an enlargement, partly in elevation, along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, horizontal, broken section, taken along the line 44 of Fig, 1.

Fig. 5 is a broken, perspective view of elements comprised-in the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference number 6 generally indicates a standard mounted upon a base 1 and havin a telescoping section 8. The section 8 is held in its vertically adjusted positions by a set screw 9. A semi-circular cradle I is slidable lengthwise and pivotally held upon the standard section 8 by means of a bolt l2, which in turn is clamped in position by a wing nut l3. Integral with the bolt I2 is a head l4 that has flanges I extending around and frictionally gripping the body member ofv thecradle Ill. The cradle I0 may be slid longitudinally in the gripping flanges l5, to different adjusted positions.

The pivotal movement of the cradle I0 is obtained by unscrewing the nut l3 and swinging the cradle I0 about the bolt l2 as an axis. The nut i3'is thereupon tightened in position to hold the cradle I 0 in its new position. If the cradle is swung a full half circle from the position shown inFig. l, the southernhemisphere would be uppermost.

lfhe cradle I 0 has outwardly extending arms l1 and I8, upon the outer ends'of which are pivoted, hollow, hemispherical members l9 and 20 respectively. The dome-shaped members l9 and 20 have bifurcated brackets 2i and 22 approximately at the poles of said members. Bolts 23 and wing nuts 24 hold the domes l9 and 20 in their pivotal, adjusted positions.

Welded to theinner face of the cradle I0 is a bar 25 that substantially bisects the are .de scribed by the cradle ID. The outer endof the bar 25 isconnected to a link 26 by an adjusting bolt 21 and wing nut 28. The outer end of the linklfi'has a similar adjusting bolt 29 and wing nut 30 that connect the link 26 with an opaque masking board 3! .The masking board 3| may carry the letters N, W, E and S to indicate the directions of north, west, east and south, as best shown in Fig. 5. On the inside surfaces of the hemispherical domes l9 and- 20 may be indicated stars 32, sun 33, moon 34 and other astronomical phenomena, as desired.

It will be noticed in the drawing that the dome l9 carries the letter N on the exterior surface. This is to denote the northern hemisphere, while the dome 20 carries the letter S to denote the southern hemisphere.

In practice, my invention has been found to greatly facilitate the understanding of astronomy students in learning the positions of stars, constellations and other astronomical phenomena. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the northern hemispherical sky is shown upward and the southern hemispherical sky is shown downward. It is clear that even without using the masking board 3|, astronomy students will be more easily taught by referring to these hollow dome-like hemispheres. Thus it can be seen that the two domes l 9 and 20 may be used simultaneously in the position shown in the drawing.

If desired, the positions of the two hemispheres may be reversed by loosening the wing nut l3 and swinging the cradle I0 around until the positions of the domes are reversed. Then the wing nut I3 is re-tightened in position.

It is believed clear that by loosening the wing nut 28, the masking board 3| may be swung to an inoperative position or be swung to a nesting position in either dome, as suggested in Figs. 1 and 5. A greater or lesser angle may be described by the board 3| by loosening the wing nut 30 and swinging the board pivotally around the bolt 29. The nut 30 may thereafter be tightened to hold theboard in its new-tposition. The board 3| has the distinct advantage of cutting off the part of the sky desired to be covered at a certain point in the lecture, or in the use ofthe device. By adjustment of the board--3l;.the sky at different seasons of the year and at different points on the earths surface maybe depicted. Either or both of the hemispheres l9 and Zllv may, of course, be disconnected from the supporting cradle l0 and held manually with the masking. board Si in the desired position within the hemisphere. v p

It is to. be understood that th emasking board 31 is primarily intendeda'saifhorizon piece." In other. words, said boardestablishes theliorizon at any desired degree of latitude. I

While Ih'ave illustrated and: described what'I now regard as the preferred embodiment of. my invention, the. construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and'scope offmy invention. I, therefore, dotnot wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and. described, butldesire to avail myself ofallfmodifications.thatmay fall within thescope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described'my invention,.what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is: 1. An'astronomical device comprising support ing. means mounted to swing aboutla given axis, hollow, open-ended elements independently, arranged upon swinging parts of the. supporting means with their open-endsvfacing each other, theinner surfaces of the elements beingcurved and bearing representations of astronomical phenomena, anda pivotallymountedmasking elementl having, a curved surface conforming substantially with the inner surfaces of both oisaid elements and movable independently pivotally to. mask-portionsofeither, of said elements,

2. An astronomical device comprising supporting means mounted to swing about a generally horizontal axis, hollow, open-ended elements separately pivotally connected at substantially diametrically opposite positions on the supporting means, the inner surfaces of the elements being curved and bearing representations of astronomical phenomena, an arm substantially bisecting the space between the connections of the elements with the supporting means, and an opaque masking board pivotaily mounted on the arm, the board having a. curved' surface conforming substantial- 1y with the inner surfaces of both of said elements and movable pivotally to mask portions thereof, and movable toward and away from said hollow elements respectively.

" '3.- An astronomical device comprising a semicircular cradle member, supporting means, mechanism on the supporting means to adjustably hold the. cradle member with the ends projecting therefrom, the cradle member being longitudinallyiadjustable in the mechanism; hollow, domelikeelements independently mounted onthe outer ends of the cradle member. and being pivoted about axes transverse to the plane of said cradle member, the inner surfaces of the elements bearing representations of astronomical phenomena. and a'masking elementalso'mounted on the cradle member and disposed between the dome-like. elements to mask inner, face portions thereof.

i {L An astronomicaldevicecomprising a standard, a'narcuately shaped supporting member slidably and pivotally mounted. on said standard at a central portion, a pairof spaced semi spherical elementsisecured rat the ends of said'supporting member and being pivoted. about axes'at risht angles to the plane of saidsup'portin member, the inner surfacesof said. elements bearing representations of astronomical phenomena, anarm extending radially inward from saidcentralportion, a link pivoted'atthe end of said arm'substantiallybetween said elements, and a masking disc pivoted atthe free end of saidlink adapted to selectively. interfit within said elements. to mask portions thereof,

: JEROME C. LAFFER'I'Y. 

